Although NBC won’t hold its Upfront, where the network will announce its 2012-2013 TV schedule, until next Monday, they’ve already made news by picking up more than a half-dozen series so far: Ryan Murphy’s “The New Normal,” Eric Kripke’s “Revolution”…actually, I’ll get to all that later. Here’s what you care about: the fate of NBC’s existing Thursday night sitcoms. According to Deadline:

It looks like NBC’s “30 Rock” will be back for a likely-abbreviated seventh and final season. I hear the Emmy-winning comedy has closed deals with its key high-level writers to return for what is expected to be a final season of 13-14 episodes.

It’s tough imagining NBC without “30 Rock,” but a 14-episode final season isn’t a terrible thing; the series usually has a few dud episodes every year, and fewer episodes means stronger overall scripts. As for the rest:

As for NBC’s other bubble comedies, newbie “Whitney” does not appear likely to return. Fellow freshman “Up All Night” has been looking a little better, but its executive producer Jon Pollack just moved to NBC’s newly picked up comedy series “Go On” as a co-executive producer…As for veterans “Community” and “Parks & Recreation,” the former’s chances are considered 50-50, “Parks & Rec”‘s higher that that.

No matter what happens with “Community,” and we should know very soon, the news of its renewal or lack there of will likely cause the Internet to break. Have your “STREETS AHEAD” or “YOU ARE WORSE THAN BRITTA, NBC” comments ready. Here are the new shows that NBC has already picked up, with series synopses.

Co-written by Ryan Murphy and Ali Adler and directed by Murphy, “The New Normal” is described as a heartwarming comedy about a blended family of a gay couple — Bryan (Andrew Rannells) and David (Justin Bartha) — and a cash-strapped waitress and mother of one Goldie (Georgia King) who becomes a surrogate to help them have a child. Co-starring is Ellen Barkin as Goldie’s glamorous/bigoted grandmother.

Written by Eric Kripke, directed by Jon Favreau and produced by JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot and Warner Bros TV, “Revolution” is described as a high-octane action drama following a group of characters struggling to survive and reunite with loved ones in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist. Billy Burke plays the lead, with Giancarlo Esposito, Tracy Spiradakos, Graham Rogers, and Anna Lise co-starring.

The single-camera comedy [“Save Me”], written/executive produced by John Scott Shepherd, stars Anne Heche as a woman who lets herself – and her marriage – go until she undergoes an “awakening” that transforms her spiritually and physically into a desirable and outspoken woman who just might be channeling god.

Matthew Perry stars in and co-executive produces “Go On,” a single-camera project written by Scott Silveri and directed by Todd Holland. Produced by Universal TV, it centers on an irreverent yet charming sportscaster (Perry) who, trying to move on from a loss, finds surprising solace from the members of his mandatory support group.

NBC has pulled the trigger on a 13-episode order to “Hannibal,” a straight-to-series project from Gaumont International Television, written and executive produced by Bryan Fuller and executive produced by Martha DeLaurentiis. The project is described as a contemporary thriller series featuring the classic characters from Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon – FBI agent Will Graham and his mentor Dr. Hannibal Lecter – who are re-introduced at the beginning of their budding relationship.

“Animal Practice,” from writers Brian Gatewood and Alex Tanaka, Universal TV, and American Work, centers on a “House”-like veterinarian (Justin Kirk), who loves animals but usually hates their owners (especially the new woman who runs the clinic). Tyler Labine, Bobby Lee and Amy Huberman co-star.

“1600 Penn,” from 20th TV, is a family comedy set in the White House. Josh Gad co-created the show with Jon Lovett and is starring. Bill Pullman, Jenna Elfman and Martha MacIsaac co-star.

I want to see 1600 Penn be a series about how Kal Penn, through some accident with secret Pentagon hardware, manages to clone himself 1599 times. Kal and his clones decide to share the burden of his job with the Office of Public Engagement, and all move in to the White House, with hijinks ensuing.

” a high-octane action drama following a group of characters struggling to survive and reunite with loved ones in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist.
I don’t understand, has gravity disappeared? Can people no longer move? All forms of energy?

I saw a screener of the New Normal. Ellen Barkin, Justin Bartha, and Georgia King were all great. Unfortunately the actor who plays the main character (Andrew Rannells) has no chemistry with the rest of the cast and is kind of offensive with how negatively stereotypical he plays the gay character. Also, Nene Leaks plays his secretary and she really can’t act. I don’t expect this show to go far.

It’s a Ryan Murphy vehicle. It’s going to have an decent-to-excellent pilot and first five episodes which convinces NBC to give it Office-like untouchability, and then it’s going to fall off of the cliff while people rend garments about how awful and implausible it’s become.

A shorten 30 Rock season might be a good idea as Josh says, I think this current (shorten) season is one of the best they’ve had in years. I think a shorten season could also benefit Community’s lack of consistency I’m feeling this season.
But a shorten Parks & Rec? I wouldn’t be happy…

As for those synopses…
Go On looks ok because I like sports and Matthew Perry.
1600 Penn sounds ok to me too, we already have Veep and I’m not sure I can take two comedies set in DC, but I like Gad Elfman and Pullman.
The rest looks terrible (even if the nerd in me hopes Revolution will be cool, but it will probably suck).

I don’t believe Hannibal Lecter was a “mentor” to Will Graham. They were adversaries. One was an FBI agent and the other a crazy killer cannibal bastard playing at being a “gentleman”. They should make the person developing this series eat his own bowels with some Van de Kamp beans and a can of Milwaukee’s Best.

In the Red Dragon book, Lecter was a psychologist working with Graham to profile a serial killer before Graham finally caught on to why Lecter was so good at the whole understanding insanity stuff. It was a short relationship in the book. Just enough to establish an origin for Lecter. This idea for a series based on it is just cray cray. Maybe they are going for a Dexter sort of thing where you root for the bloodthirsty monster.

How is it that FX consistently develops original new shows that are top quality but NBC cannot do the same? I know Wilfred isn’t original, but at least they do it well and it’s new to American audiences. But we’re looking at more bland family and obligatory gay comedies on NBC this fall? Here’s an idea, do a show that centers around a radio program and or host.

With the exception of a few shows, NBC and the other major network try to pander to the lowest common denominator. They don’t want to challenge the viewer too much. Which I think is the big problem with a show like Community. It scares TV execs because it requires some sort of investment from the viewer. They’re afraid people won’t understand why one episode was done in claymation and another was made to look like Law and Order. FX isn’t scared. Even a show like Archer, which at first blush seems like a goofy cartoon, is actually very smart, with complex jokes and a bit on the edgy side. The major network’s idea of edgy is Don’t The B

Good points BigPhil. It’s like the big networks are playing a bizarre version of Moneyball with the goal being to capture the widest audience with the lowest amount of work for writers and producers. And guys, that was my point, all the sitcoms on the list look like reboots of Will & Grace and other shows we’ve seen a thousand times before. I can’t even watch SVU anymore, it’s a parody of itself and I would have realized that sooner if I hadn’t grown up with the Law&Order franchise.

It would be disappointing if Community is canceled, obviously. I wouldn’t be bothered by Parks and Rec being shortened – this season’s Leslie-Ben in a relationship/running for office storyline has been painfully boring. 30 Rock has been better this year. I won’t watch anything coming out on NBC, but neither will anyone else, so it’s OK.

But the cast’s chemistry makes up for EVERYTHING, even a boring storyline. Parks and Rec also has incredible guest stars – Louis C.K., Rudd, Mullally, Arnett, Armisen, Kroll – NOT TO MENTION JEAN RALPHIO. WHERE THE HELL IS JEAN RALPHIO!?

Hannibal is straight to series? Is that better or worse than straight to video? Imagine the board meeting: “You know what would be a great idea? A serial killer psychiatrist who eats people. And we’ll put it on TV! It’ll be like watching everything except the sex scenes in a porno, which I hear is what the kids are doing these days. Brilliant!” Also, is it just me or does The New Normal sound like they pulled stereotypical characters out of hat? Single mom with shitty job always complaining about money/taking care of her kid? Check. Hilarious gay couple (of which I assume one is a flamboyantly queer interior designer and the other is a straitlaced lawyer/business type)? Check. An out of touch older person whose behind the times views will enlighten us to our own deep seeded bigotry? Check and check. Good Lord, kill me now. I would ask how stupid do these people think we are, but then again people in general are very, very stupid.

if parks and rec gets cancelled, I will gladly sacrifice my family and friends to bring it back. I love community, don’t get me wrong,, but I got 3 amazing seasons out of it and I am happy for that. but if P&R goes? thats a paddlin.